Pakistan are determined to learn the lessons England have taught them about one-day international cricket this summer.

The tourists' bowling coach Azhar Mahmood, a veteran of many seasons in England as a player, admits the ongoing Royal London Series has been a disappointment for Pakistan.

At 4-0 down with one match to play in Cardiff on Sunday, and England on course for a first 5-0 whitewash of any opposition, it could hardly be anything else.

Azhar Mahmood, left, hopes Pakistan can learn from England

But Pakistan have an eye already on returns next summer for the Champions Trophy and, depending on an improvement in their ODI ranking of ninth, the World Cup in 2019.

By then, irrespective of this weekend's outcome, Azhar is confident they will be able to show the benefits of their tough learning curve.

"It's been a disappointing time for us, but there are (still) a lot of positives," he said.

"The way we bowled at Nottingham wasn't good enough.

"We are going to make mistakes. As long as we learn from them, we hope we can turn the tables around.

"What happened in the past you can't change, but we can learn from our mistakes and move on."

England are a case in point.

They have been transformed since their embarrassing early exit from last year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

"From where England were 18 months ago they changed the mentality and we have to do the same thing," said Azhar.

"(We need) a little bit more aggression, a bit more positive intent.

"We've got young players who can change things, but it will take time."

England's improvement is dramatic, but Azhar can explain its origins since current assistant Paul Farbrace first took the reins from Peter Moores.

"It's not surprised me," he said.

"One thing is they have a better balance of players in their side.

"When Mooresy left and Farby took over, that's the time they thought, 'We've got not nothing to lose, we just need to express ourselves on the field'."

With personnel such as Azhar's own Surrey team-mate Jason Roy they have the firepower to make it count.

"They've got players like Jason Roy - he can change the game in no time - (Eoin) Morgan himself, Jos Buttler," he said.

"They've got a good unit of young players who understand the game and can play big shots and rotate the strike really well.

"Where we are lacking as a batting unit we are not rotating the strike and we don't have the guys who can clear the ropes.

"We need to find those guys very quickly if we want to improve in one-day cricket."

Pakistan must make one enforced change as they seek to avoid a whitewash, with Mohammad Irfan ruled out of the remainder of the tour.

The giant left-armer was drafted in for the final two matches and next week's one-off NatWest Twenty20, but managed only five overs in Thursday's four-wicket defeat at Headingley before limping out of the action with cramp.

Hasan Ali, already in the ODI team, will replace him for the Twenty20 at Old Trafford.